After passing different versions of a liquor omnibus bill, the Minnesota House and Senate were unable to come to an agreement on a final version of the bill yesterday, the last day of the 2017 regular legislative session. With large budget bills still outstanding when the clock struck midnight, a special session was called so … [ Read more]
Bill introduced to effectively expand growler sales to all Minnesota breweries
February 14, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Bring in a growler to Third Street Brewhouse’s taproom for a refill, and you’ll come away empty-bottled. In August 2016, the Cold Spring, Minnesota–based brewery ceased filling growlers after it crossed the annual production limit of 20,000 barrels imposed by state law. They joined a growing list of breweries that cannot sell growlers at their locations, including Summit Brewing, August Schell … [ Read more]
What’s the ABV? Transparency in beer labeling
January 20, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Seven years ago, I was living in Ghent, Belgium. Though I had been a fan of craft beer for years, Belgium is where I learned the hard way about the wide variance of alcohol content between different styles. I hadn’t yet been introduced to the Belgian golden strong ale or tripel—two drinkable yet shockingly potent … [ Read more]
Dry in Duluth: The story behind the last dry neighborhoods in the Zenith City
October 19, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Nearly all of Duluth has embraced the explosion of local beer, but there’s one eastside neighborhood that hasn’t partaken. In fact, the Lakeside/Lester Park neighborhood hasn’t sold a drop of alcohol during its 125-year-old ban on liquor sales. The historic run came to end in June, however, when the Duluth City Council voted to sign … [ Read more]
Minnesota’s brand label registration system goes online
January 25, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Every beer sold in the state of Minnesota, whether it’s a one-off at a local taproom, a Belgian import, or craft beer produced in another state, must be registered with the Minnesota Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division (AGED). Until about a month ago, that registration process was completed on paper and processed manually by the state. … [ Read more]
